Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-08-25
UNCLE NAHUM.
His Wedding, and How He Pro-
vided for It.

Uncle Nahum Nixon was reading the
paper in his back parlor. Nobody
would think, to look at the simple sur
roundings of the unpretentious apart
ment, that Mr.. Nahum Nixon was one
of the wealthiest men in town. The
carpet, it is true, was Administer, but
it had seen twenty-five good years of
service. and was down to the very
warp; the faded red curtains were of
moreen, instead of silk damask; the
old clock on the mantel was no Paris
ian affair of alabaster and gilt but a
substantial Connecticut time piece that
struck with whirr, like partridge
springing out of her nest; the chairs of
old-fashioned mahogany and hair-cloth
stood upright against the wall; the
portraits of General Washington on
horseback and the surrender of Corn
wallis ornamented the gay-papered
walls in frames of sombre gilt, and the
one elegance of the apartment was a
preposterous bouquet of wax flowers
under cracked glass shade
But Uncle Nixon had remembered
that furniture ever since he was a
child, and he wouldn't have exchanged
it for the fittings of a Partisan boudoir,
or the choicest specimens of the mod
ern Eastlake pattern. He was rich
man, that was quite enough for him.
''If you please, Mr.. Nixon" said the
trim maid-servant, "Mr. Marmaduke
Bourne wants to see you, if you please,
sir, if you are quite at leisure.
',Mr. Marmaduke Bourne, ehP" The
old gentleman took off his spectacles
and laid them upon the folded news
paper. "Ask him to come in, Polly. "
And Mr. Marmaduke Bourne came
in, tall, fresh-colored young fellow,
with sparkling gray eyes and straight
Greek nose, that seemed as if it had
been borrowed from some ancient
statue of Apollo.
"Well, sirP" said Mr.. Nixon.
"Well, sir!" counter-interrogated
Mr.. Bourne, "did you get my letterp''
II got your letter." said Uncle
Nahum. 80 you want to marry my
niece, Faith?''
Eyes, sir" valiantly acknowledged
Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne.
"Ah!' nodded Uncle Nahum. "But
perhaps you don't understand all the
facts of the case"
1.-THE facts, sirp"
II want my niece to marry Colonel
Ashland's son." slowly enunciated
Uncle Nahum.
"But, sir, she don't love him."
"Pshaw!" snarled Uncle Nahum,
"And if she don't marry him she will
be a beggar. will give her no money
of mine. Now you understand mat
ters. Marry her or not, as you
please"
He took up the newspaper once
mora tacit intimation that the In
terview was at an end.
"Sir-" began Marmaduke.
THAT will do" said MIR. Nixon.
Il only wish to"
That will do" thundered Mr.
Nixon, and so Marmaduke went away
Little Faith Nixon came down stairs
presently, a blue-eyed blossom OF a girl
with yellow hair growing low down OF
her forehead, and very little mouth
exactly the shape to suggest the ide'
of kissing.
Unele Nahum looked keenly up a
her as she fiut.ered about the room
strengthening a table cover there o.
batting down fold here.
YES" said he, with a curious
twitch of the mus cles around his eyes
..he has been here.
Ill did not ask any question
Uncle Nahum"
..No, but your eyes did," chuckie'
the old man. "He wants to MARI.
you-the improvident young do nkey.
Faith came to her uncle's chair an'
laid her hand ON his shoulder.
..r,ss is no. the worst Of it, Uncl
NaAum-I want to marry him."
-Humphr' snsrled Ma Nixon. II
hsrA eosteuap< "And what do yo'
expect 10 live on, should Ike I
ksswf"